Austin FC announces three player exits, with possibly more to come
Austin FC announced its first three player exits on Tuesday, including the club's current captain and a three-year starter who helped anchor the defense. The club said it would announce more roster moves later.
On Tuesday, Austin FC announced three players who were with the club during the just-concluded 2026 season won't continue on in the Jim Curtin era.
Captain, midfielder, and recent defender Ilie Sánchez, defender and occasional captain Brendan Hines-Ike, and defender Riley Thomas are all exiting Austin FC, as Hines-Ike's contract has expired, and the club declined option years on Sánchez and Thomas.
“Brendan, Ilie, and Riley have meant a great deal to this Club both on and off the pitch," said Austin FC chief soccer officer and sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad. "On behalf of everyone at Austin FC, I want to thank them. It was important to us that each of them heard this news directly, so we met with them individually last Wednesday, giving them the chance to enjoy their final home match at Q2 Stadium with our supporters. They will always have a home here in Austin.”
Hines-Ike arrived just prior to the start of the 2024 season and made 99 appearances for Austin FC counting all competitions. Sánchez, earning the captain's armband upon his 2025 arrival, featured in 65 matches for Verde over two seasons. Though Thomas only made one senior appearance for the first team after being picked in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, he did make 33 appearances for VerDos.
The club did emphasize that additional roster decisions would be announced at a later date.
Both Jorge Alastuey and Žan Kolmanič have contracts with 2027 options that the club may exercise.
Micah Burton, who issued an air of finality Instagram post on Sunday, is under contract with the club through through December 2027, and only taking up a supplemental roster spot, so it's unclear whether or not he'll stay Verde despite his referencing Saturday's match as a "bittersweet ending."
And though all other players on the team are locked in with contracts beyond this year, the possibility of mutual contract termination, buyouts, cash-for-player trades, or transfers out remain as El-Ahmad — soon in concert with incoming head coach Jim Curtin — remakes the roster.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts, and join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
Davy Arnaud will be staying on as an Austin FC assistant coach following his stint as interim head coach. Meanwhile, two players have gone to Instagram to tell fans they're leaving the club.
Austin FC lost its season finale on Saturday, and while one player is already looking to a future with Jim Curtin, one gave a statement that had a certain air of finality to it.
Austin FC came into its final match of the 2026 season hoping for a home win. Instead, the Timbers got their winning goal, punching their playoff ticket, in the match's third minute.
Austin FC has a sixth straight Decision Day that doesn't impact its playoff chances. But its opponent from the Pacific Northwest has many scenarios to get into the postseason.
On Tuesday, Austin FC announced three players who were with the club during the just-concluded 2026 season won't continue on in the Jim Curtin era.
Captain, midfielder, and recent defender Ilie Sánchez, defender and occasional captain Brendan Hines-Ike, and defender Riley Thomas are all exiting Austin FC, as Hines-Ike's contract has expired, and the club declined option years on Sánchez and Thomas.
“Brendan, Ilie, and Riley have meant a great deal to this Club both on and off the pitch," said Austin FC chief soccer officer and sporting director Khaled El-Ahmad. "On behalf of everyone at Austin FC, I want to thank them. It was important to us that each of them heard this news directly, so we met with them individually last Wednesday, giving them the chance to enjoy their final home match at Q2 Stadium with our supporters. They will always have a home here in Austin.”
Hines-Ike arrived just prior to the start of the 2024 season and made 99 appearances for Austin FC counting all competitions. Sánchez, earning the captain's armband upon his 2025 arrival, featured in 65 matches for Verde over two seasons. Though Thomas only made one senior appearance for the first team after being picked in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, he did make 33 appearances for VerDos.
The club did emphasize that additional roster decisions would be announced at a later date.
Both Jorge Alastuey and Žan Kolmanič have contracts with 2027 options that the club may exercise.
Micah Burton, who issued an air of finality Instagram post on Sunday, is under contract with the club through through December 2027, and only taking up a supplemental roster spot, so it's unclear whether or not he'll stay Verde despite his referencing Saturday's match as a "bittersweet ending."
And though all other players on the team are locked in with contracts beyond this year, the possibility of mutual contract termination, buyouts, cash-for-player trades, or transfers out remain as El-Ahmad — soon in concert with incoming head coach Jim Curtin — remakes the roster.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts, and join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
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